Adolescent Substance Abuse Articles
Study: Opiate abstinence linked to depressive-like symptoms
By Staff Writer
An opiate addiction may result from the abuse of drugs such as morphine and heroin. Abstaining from opiates can prove to be a challenge for many individuals who wish to kick their habit. Researchers recently conducted an animal study to examine the effects opiate withdrawal on addicts.
Many individuals experience what is referred to as protracted abstinence syndrome when recovering from a dependence to an opiate. This can lead to symptoms that are depressive-like in nature, including reduced concentration, low energy levels and anhedonia.
These symptoms were reflected in recent study, which was conducted by French researchers and reported in the journal Biological Psychiatry. Mice that received chronic morphine exposure showed signs of despair and low sociability after four weeks of abstinence. However, when the mice were treated to an antidepressant that targeted the serotonin system during their withdrawal period, both depressive traits were prevented.
These findings not only linked opiate abstinence with depressive-like symptoms, but also showed that serotonin dysfunction played a role. The researchers believe that these new insights may lead to more research regarding the pathways that regulate mood control and possibly lead to new forms of relapse prevention.
